Tonight:

The Game

Oklahoma Wranglers

May 26, 2000|By Alan Schmadtke of The Sentinel Staff

The Myriad, Oklahoma City, 8:30

BROADCAST: TV -- Sunshine Network. Radio -- 540 AM (WQTM).

RECORDS: Orlando 5-0, Oklahoma 4-2.

WRANGLERS UPDATE: Oklahoma has lost two in a row in the final minute, the latest defeat coming last week at New England (49-42), when the Wranglers gave up a long touchdown pass with five seconds left. The Wranglers have hurt themselves with penalties, sloppy and inconsistent pass coverage and, last week, poor kicking. Still, with the pass-catch combination of quarterback Ron Lopez (130-205-8, 1,585 yards and 35 TDs) and Carlos Johnson (54-623, 12 TDs), Oklahoma is fourth in the league in scoring (54.3 points). The Wranglers' challenge is to slow Orlando's two unsung weapons, return specialist Joe Douglass and defenders Kenny McEntyre and Bret Cooper.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The Wranglers present the Preds' top-rated defense its sternest test. Orlando leads the league in interceptions (11), led by individual league leader McEntyre's seven. The Preds are first in the league in scoring defense and first in pass defense. The Predators are the only unbeaten team left in the AFL, which makes them automatic targets. They also happen to be one of the league's most beat-up teams. Preds Coach Jay Gruden canceled practices Monday and Tuesday in favor of conditioning drills because of his bruised roster. Regardless, they are 5-0 for only the second time in their history.

ETC.: Missing for the Preds are FB/LB Rick Hamilton (ruptured larynx) and OL/DL Rich McKenzie (broken wrist). The club re-signed former Pred Jeff Cothran to fill Hamilton's spot, and he will share time with Bill Hall and Mike Osuna.